
20 •
OUTLINE STUDIES IN THE REVELATION
bodily form dwell there and go to and fro. Men in redeemed
flesh, who once lived on earth, as Enoch and
-
Moses and
Elijah, and our Lord and Saviour, in whose hands of flesh may
he seen the prints of the nails, serve and dwell in heaven.
There is the tree of life and the garden of Eden, trees that
once rooted in the very soil of this earth as do those which
we see abbut us. Let none be robbed of the hope of heaven
by the theosophical mysticism which is sweeping the world
to-day.
2.
Throughout the Scriptures the Lord represents Him-
self as one before whose face and bodily presence the re-
deemed sinner in immortal flesh may one day come. The
fact that God is Spirit in no way suggests the spiritualistic
idea of an all-pervading personality or influence with no
special place where His bodily presence may be approached
by spiritual beings. Here is a view of the throne of heaven
wholly in accord with scenes presented in Holy Writ: "I saw
a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on
Jesus' countenance and admired His lovely person. The
Father's person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious
light covered Him. I asked Jesus if His Father had a form
like Himself. He said He had, but I could not behold it, for,
said He, if you should once behold the glory of His person,
you would cease to exist."—Early
Writings, p. 45.
3.
"In heaven the semblance of a rainbow encircles the
throne, and overarches the head of Christ. The prophet says,
'As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of
rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about [the
throne]. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of
Jehovah.' The Revelator declares, 'Behold, a throne was set in
heaven, and One sat on the throne. . . . There was a rain-
bow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.'
When man by his great wickedness invites the divine judg-
ments, the Saviour, interceding with the Father in his behalf,
points to the bow in the clouds, to the rainbow around the
throne and above His own head, as a token of the mercy of
God toward the repentant sinner. With the assurances given
to Noah concerning the flood, God Himself has linked one
of the most precious promises of His grace. . . . Isa.
54:9,
io."—Patriarchs and P. rophets, P. 107.
4.
These elders are plainly redeemed men, who once lived
on earth. Many sleeping saints arose with Christ (Matt. 27:
52, 53), and as He ascended on high He led a multitude of
captives (Eph. 4:8, margin), first-fruits and pledges of His
Prayerfully consider the unentered fields.